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Yes, in honor of the last day of the Blogging from A to Z challenge, I’m going to go there:

ZOMBIES!!

I know, you’re probably thinking that I’m stretching it here by including zombie preparedness in my “26 Reasons to Take Your Family Outside,” but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if you’ve got the skills needed to survive the zombie apocalypse, you’re ready for anything.

I tend to think those who have some outdoor skills would fare pretty well against the undead.

The CDC includes a list of five things people should do in order to be prepared for a zombie invasion–or any other sort of disaster. Here’s there list, along with my commentary on how outdoor skills make you ready to address these challenges:

Make an emergency kit. If you’re going on an outdoor adventure, my guess is that you’ve got this covered. The CDC recommends water, food, tools, medication, a first-aid kit, clothing, etc., all things that anyone going outside for more than a short time should be thinking about anyway.

Identify the types of emergencies that are possible in your area. If you’re headed out on a hike, whether you’re headed over the hills, through the woods, or across the desert, you’re likely thinking through what you might encounter. While you don’t want to dwell on the bad things that can happen, it’s smart to be prepared for them.

Pick a meeting place for your family to regroup in case zombies invade your home…or your town evacuates because of a hurricane. Okay, so you might not be thinking about evacuating for zombies, but if you’re headed outside, you’re probably thinking about the safety of the people in your party. Smart parents discuss with their young children what they do if they’re ever lost, for example.

Identify your emergency contacts. This is sort of a version of the old buddy system. Most people recognize it’s not a good idea to head out without letting someone know where you’re headed. The outdoors are unpredictable, so we have to be prepared.

Plan your evacuation route. While it’s not always possible, it’s useful to plan a route–and have a Plan B in mind just in case things don’t go as planned. People who spend much time outdoors realize that things change quickly–from unexpected storms to trail closures, sometimes we have to amend our itinerary. Knowing how to get back to the car–or to safety–is important.

Listen to this interview with the CDC as they discuss their preparedness plan and think about how prepared you are for a zombie apocalypse–or any other disaster:

How ready are you??

This is the last of my 2016 Blogging from A to Z Challenge posts. Thank you for putting up with my 26 Reasons to Take Your Family Outside throughout the past month!